callabd



Oct. 2 1923. 1,469,380

R. P.- CALLARD DRAWING CONTINUOUS SHEET GLAss Original Filed Aug;V 1919 ATTE] FQNEY Patented Oct. 2, 1923.

` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' ROBERT P. CALLARD, 0F CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR T0 THE LIBBEY- OWENS SHEET GLASS COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, AICORPORATION OF OHIO.

v DRAWING CONTINUOUS SHEET GLASS.

Original application led August 11, 1919, Serial No. 316,638. Divided and this application nled March 3,

1921. Serial No. 449,358.

To all whom. 'it may concern Be it known that I, RoBnRrP. Camlann, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charleston, in the county of Kanawha and State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Drawing Continuous Sheet lass, of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention relates to anaimprovement in the art of drawing glass in sheet forni from a mass of molten glass, and is concerned particularly with a process for drawin@r the sheet by vmeans applied only to the side edges thereof, leaving the central body portion of the sheet entirely free and ex posed throughout the drawing process. This Vinvention.wasirst disclosed in my cepending application, Serial Number 316,638, tiled August 11, 1919, of which this present application is a division.

The specific character of the invention, and the objects and advantages attained thereby, will be better understood from the following detailed description of a form of apparatus adapted to carry out this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the sheet drawing mechanism, theV receptacle from which the sheet is drawn being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the edge drawing mechanisms, the sheet and receptacle being shown in vertical section substantially on the line 2*-2 of Fig.k 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View, similar to Fig.V

2, of the lower portion of the drawing mechanism.

The shallow draw-pot or receptacle 1, is continuously supplied with molten glass 2, from a suitable source, such as a continuous tank furnace. A heating chamber beneath the-draw-pot is indicated conventionally at 3. The sheet of glass .4t is drawn vertically Vupward from the molten glass 2 in recep tacle 1. f

At each edge of sheet 4 is arranged a drawing and width maintaining mechanism 5, the two mechanisms being substantial duplicates, so that only ,one of them need be described in detail. A pair of endless chains 6 and 7, mounted to travelin substantially` vthe same vertical plane, travel one ateach side ofthe edge portion of the sheet of glass,

and the links of the chains carry on their outer sides gripping members 8, which preferably have their faces roughened or knurled to more positively engage the glass sheet. TheJ inner runs of the chains are so spaced that the sheet will be gripped and carried along between adjacent pairs of grippers 8. The chains 6 and 7 are each carried on sprockets 9 at their lower'ends, and 10 at their upper ends, the sprockets 9 and 10 being mounted on and keyed to short horizontal shafts having bearings in the supporting frame 11. The two upper shafts, carrying sprockets 10, are geared together for simultaneous but opposite rotation, by

the intermeshing spur gears 12, and one of the shafts carries a. bevel gear 13 at its outer end meshing with a bevel gear 14 on the vertical drive shaft 15, also carried by frame 11.

The inner sheet engagin runs of the chains 6 and 7 are held yie dingly against the sheet by guide bars 16, which are pressed inward by expansion springs 17, held between the bars and adjusting screws 18 threaded into bosses 19 extending from the frame 11.

The frame 11 is mounted on a truck 21, movable toward and from the edge of the sheet on trackways 22, the forward wheels 23 being mounted directly on the truck, whereas the rear wheels 24 are carried by swinging levers 25, pivoted to the truck body at one end, and at the other end having adjusting screws 26 bearing against the lower side of extensions 27 on the truck body. By suit ably adjusting the screws 26, the truckland frame 11 and parts carried thereby may be tilted so as to properly aline the drawing chains or gripping members with the edge of the sheet. By tilting the frames inward, a certain amount of contraction of the sheet as it cools may be allowed for. By moving the trucks in or out along the trackways 22, the grippers may be brought into or out of drawing position over receptacle 1, or adjusted for different widths of sheets.

The drive shafts 15 for thetwo drawing mechanisms, extend down between the rails 22, and are connected by bevelV gearing 28 and 29, with a horizontal drive shaft 30, which derives its power from an suitable source, as indicated at 31. The s aft 3() is divided and has an extendable connection vspeed somewhat less than the linear speed of the chains, so that the sheet will be Vstretched longitudinally between rolls 323 and the drawing mechanisms. As shown in the drawings, the rolls are geared together by intermeshing spur-gears Staand one oit these gears 35 is driven 'from the adjacent lower sprocket shaft through the tra-iii ol gears 3G-'and 37. i

Although this drawing mechanism might be successfullyoperated in the open air, or

`in a partially enclosed space, it is illusclosing chamber 3e. Vthe faces of the sheet t, which are entirely trated in Figs. 2 and 3, as mounted in an en- In vthis arrangement,

exposed, since the drawing mechanisms engage the sheet .only at the edge portions,

will Vbe open to thete'mpering action of the `heated gases 'and radiant heat in the chaml ber 34.

The drawing of the sheet is initiated by lowering a suitable bait into the molten mass 2 and slowly pulling this bait and attached sheet upV and through the drawing mechanisms The bait is .then detached, and the ysheet willbe continuously drawn up through these devices, and may beV cut olii, inthe desired sections, above the drawing mechanisms. It will be noted that noth- Ving engages the central body portion of the sheet at any time, thus always leaving the .sheet unmarred and entirely exposed to the tempering actions ot the heated gasesV thereabout.` It will also be noted that the drawing mechanisms engagetlie sheet edgesY throughout Va considerable vertical area, and

the sheet through the upper portion ot this Y areal becomes hard and set so that it acts as fpulled sheet as v upward.

Ya bait to draw upthe continually added portion from the molten mass below.

Y Obviously a drawing mechanismV of this type might be adapted for use with a down well as one drawn vertically '.Claims: I Y Y 1. In a sheet drawing machine, a receptacle containing molten glass 'fronrwhioh vtli'e'shreet is drawn, means :for engaging and moving with each edge of the sheet until the 'sheet has Vbecome set for drawing the sheet from the receptacle, pairs olf edge forming rollers engaging each edge ofthe sheet between themolten glass and the edge drawingrmechanisms, and means for simultane VVously and synchronously driving the two edge drawing mechanisms, the edge forming rolls being driven from the saine source.

2. In a sheet glass drawing machine, a pair ot vertically moving chainsv aty each edge of the sheet, gripping the opposite sides of the edge portion only and drawing the sheet upwardly, each pair of chains being mounted on a truc-lr movable in and out in the plane of the sheet, and means simultaneously rand synchronously driving the two pair of chains. Y

3. In a sheet glass drawing machine, a pair of vertically moving chains at" each edge oit' the sheet, gripping the opposite sides ot the edge portion only and drawing the sheet upwardly, each pair ot cha-ins being mounted on a truck movable in and outv in the plane ot the sheet', means for tilting" the trucks to incline the chains inwardly to allow for the shrinkage of the sheet, and

means tor simultaneously and synchro. nously driving the two pair ot chains.

et. In combination, means to hold a supf ply of molten glass `from which the glass sheet is formed, a pairof opposed chains at each edge of thesheet for gripping the sheet and continu'ing'in gripping engagement therewith during a predetermined length of movement ofkthe sheet, and Separate means carrying and guiding the mo-vements of the pairs of chains and adjustable to dispose the sheet gripping nights of the chains parallel to the longitudinal centerline ot the sheet or at an angle thereto.

5. In combination, means to hold a sup ply oit molten glass from which the glass sheet is formed, a pair of opposed chains at each edge of the. sheet for gripping the sheet and continuing in gripping engagement therewith during a predetermined length of movement of the sheet, andvsep-V arate means carrying and guiding the movements of the pairs of chains, said separatemeans being swingingly adjustable towardand away from each other to vary the line of movement of the gripping portionsy of the'chains with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the sheet.

Y 6. In combination, means to hold a supplyfof molten glass from which thel glass sheet is formed, a pair of opposed chains at each edge ofthe sheet for gripping the sheetV and continuing in gripping engagement therewith during a predetermined length` ot movement of the sheet, separate means 'carrying and guiding the movements of the pairs of chains and adjustable to Vmove theV chains together inward or outward to suit theline yof movement of the sheet, and means operable to Vimpart Afeeding movements toV the chains of eachy pair'in any position of adjustment ofthe chains. 1

7j In combinatiomineans to holdV a sup ply of molten glass from whichtheglass sheet is formed, a pair of opposed chains 1,4oe,sao

at each edge of the sheet for gripping the sheet and continuing in gripping engagement therewith during a predetermined length of movement of the sheet, Separate means carrying and guiding the movements of the pairs of chains and adjustable to dispose the sheet gripping iights of the chains parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the sheet or at an angle thereto, and means operable to impart feeding movements to the chains of each pair in any position of adjustment of the chains.V

8. in combination, means to hold a supply of molten glass from which the glass sheet is formed7 a frame adjacent to each side edge of the sheet and near the sheet source and mounted for angular adjustment transverse to the sheet, means for imparting angular adjustment to each frame, two sets of upper and lower shafts carried by each frame, an endless chain conne'cti the shafts of each set and driven by one s aft of the set, said chains havin prolonged gripping coaction with the a jacent edge of the sheet to serve as width maintaining means therefor, and means for driving one shaft of each set to impart opposed driving movements to the chains.

9. In combination, means to hold a supply of molten lass from which the glass sheet is forme a frame adjacent to each side edge of the sheet and near the sheet source., each frame being mounted for angular adjustment transverse to the sheet, means carried by each frame including opposed chain sets for prolon ed gripping c0- action with the adjacent e ge of the sheet, and means for driving the chains of each set.

Signed at Charleston, in the county of Kanawha and State of West Va., this 26th day of February, 1921.

ROBERT P. GALLARD. 

